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Acting and modeling can be a fun and beneficial hobby for kids of various ages. Such creative activities play an extremely important role in child’s development. Introducing your child to acting and modeling can not only become their favorite new hobby, but it can give them important and useful skills that they will have for the rest of their life. For example, elevate their confidence, be a great tool for self-expression and introduce them to many new friendships.

But how does one know whether a creative hobby is their child’s true passion? As parents, we want strictly the best for our kids. That includes nurturing and elevating their talents, making sure that they take the right steps to become the most successful versions of themselves in the future. Here are several questions parents should ask themselves to help recognize, which hobby is their child’s true passion, and what is just a fleeting interest.

Is their passion consistent?

As kids grow up, they go through different phases, and their interest may change drastically. When you were little, your probably had a very abstract vision of your future career: to be president, a NASA engineer, or a famous pop star. But some kids carry on their passion as they grow up. The tough part is to differentiate passion from just a phase. It’s even harder to do so with acting because acting seems like a fun game of make-believe. What child doesn’t love that?

However, acting, as well as modeling, are a serious musty-billion dollar business that requires determination, hard work, as well as a certain level of talent. It’s important to evaluate the consistency of your child’s passion. Is it just an interest or something more serious?

How to recognize true passion:

To recognize whether or not your child is truly passionate about his or her artistic endeavors, you have to pay attention: do they love to perform in front of an audience, (whether the audience is their friends, relatives, or even a selection of their favorite toys)? Do they ask to pose for a photo any chance they get? If your child is truly passionate about acting, modeling or performing, you’ll know it because they’ll be interested in every opportunity that has to do with it acting: modeling contests, school plays, community theater, local acting group etc.

To evaluate your child’s interest and decide whether pricy acting/modeling/singing classes and camps will be worth it in the long run, listen to them and see what they’re doing to pursue their dream. Are they looking into auditioning for a school play? Do they ask about how to become a model/actor/singer? Do their eyes light up when given an opportunity to perform?

So, your child has landed an acting audition – congrats! Now comes the part when you and your kid should start preparing for that exciting day. And one of the things your child should be doing is getting familiar with the audition material. Now, not all auditions are the same. Some casting directors want your child to “read” specific material – usually an expert from the script from the production they’re casting for. But sometimes you’ll need to prepare your own material – see our monologues HERE.

During the first audition, there’s no rule that your child needs to know ALL of the material by heart. They should, however, be very familiar with their lines (or their monologue), only glancing at the pages for reference. If you’re lucky and get a callback, or get a taping audition (when the process is being filmed), you kid must know the material by heart. Why? Because this will ensure the performer is connecting with the reader and not the paper. This is important as it demonstrates to the casting director or director that your child is truly a professional and on top of his or her game in a very competitive industry.

One of the most difficult things for young actors, especially kids who are just starting school, is having a natural read when auditioning. Kids that age are still learning how to read and may stumble on words. Going into an audition with memorized lines, however, can solve that problem, because then the child can focus on acting, rather than reading.

While it’s a not an easy task to have your little one memorize (often a significant amount) of text, don’t worry. We’ve prepared some tips to help you keep your sanity while helping your child memorize the lines.

Break the dialogue down

Break the dialogue in several smaller parts. Learning text little by little is much more effective than trying to memorize the whole text. Have your kid repeat each part until it’s memorized and then move on to the next chunk!

Ignore punctuation

A great pro tip is to tell your kid to ignore punctuation. Just because there’s a comma on the page doesn’t mean your child needs to make a pause. Same goes for an exclamation and question marks.

Highlight their parts

This very simple tip is essential for a more productive memorizing session. Using a highlighter to indicate your child’s parts will help them locate the appropriate line when glancing down at the paper while concentrating on their material only.

Give them a break

Studies have shown that frequent breaks from studying can significantly increase child’s concentration, productivity and even creativity, makes them less agitated and more focused on learning. Taking a 15 minute break every 45 minutes will refresh your child’s brain and get them ready to learn more!

Repetition is key

Have your child read the lines with you out loud over and over again. When it comes to learning the monologue, repetition is the most effective method.

Work before sleep

Studying before bed is proved to be an effective way of learning your lines. Studies have shown that recall is much better if the learning was done before going to sleep. Make sure your child reviews the lines again in the morning, though.

Don’t rush them

Learning lines is a lot of work, so don’t rush your child. It won’t do them any good if they are pressured to learn quickly.

In conclusion, that main advice that you should take is to make sure your child knows that reading the script is only one part of an audition and that messing up a line does not mean not getting the role. Acting is not about being perfect. It’s being able to connect with your scene partner, as well as with the character for which your child is auditioning for.

At one point in time, your favorite stars were just struggling actors looking for their big breaks. And many of them kickstarted their acting careers as kids, auditioning for commercials, uncredited roles, and appearing as background extras in various movies. Let’s go through these 6 surprising starting roles of now established actors. These big names are more relatable than you may have thought…

ELIJAH WOOD IN A CHEESE COMMERCIAL

Before he was Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s epic film trilogy “The Lord of the Rings,” a young Elijah Wood was cast in a cheese commercial!

ALEXIS BLEDEL AS AN UNNAMED STUDENT IN RUSHMORE

Alexis is well known for her portrayal of Rory Gilmore in the beloved TVF series “Gilmore Girls.” But before her big break, Alexis starred in the uncredited role of an unnamed student in Wes Anderson’s 1998 movie ‘’Rushmore’’. She can be seen in various scenes including dancing with another character at the end of the film. Watch a scene with here in the video below:

JENNIFER LAWRENCE AS A HIGH SCHOOL MASCOT IN MONK

Today, Jennifer Lawrence is one of Hollywood’s top-earning actresses. But in 2007 her very first role was as a school mascot in “Monk”, a popular detective TV series. Is it just us or crowd cheering and being goofy is a role rather fitting to the charming JLaw?

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR IN BURGER KING COMMERCIAL

Sarah Michelle Gellar received widespread recognition for her portrayal of Buffy Summers in WB series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, but did you know that at just 4 years old she starred in a Burger King commercial? In fact, the TV spot became quite controversial for the star: in it, her character criticized McDonald’s and claimed to eat only at Burger King. The ad even led to a lawsuit by McDonald’s, naming Gellar and banning her from eating at the food chain; she recalled in a 2004 interview: “I wasn’t allowed to eat there. It was tough because, when you’re a little kid, McDonald’s is where all your friends have their birthday parties, so I missed out on a lot of apple pies.” That didn’t stop her from reaching her goals and dreams in acting though!

Before becoming Bella Swan in the the “Twilight” saga that grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide, Kristen Stewart’s had a tiny part in “The Flinstones In Viva Rock Vegas” where she appeared for a couple of seconds as a ‘’Ring Toss Girl’’. At least the part was credited.

MILA KUNIS AS 11 YEAR OLD GIA IN THE MOVIE “GIA”

The movie Gia has certainly been an important experience for Angelina Jolie, but just as important it was for Mila Kunis when she played an 11 year old Gia. The resemblance is certainly there and it’s not surprising why Mila was chosen for this gig.

Just like the stars above, your kid could begin their career with an extras job on a hit show or movie found through KidsCasting. Try it out now. With dedication and regular submission to casting calls, your kid WILL land roles.

Have you ever heard of the best-selling book by Japanese author and co-founder of SONY Corporation Masaru Ibuka? In his book titled “Kindergarten is Too Late” (1971), Ibuka claims that the most significant human learning occurs from birth to 3 years old and suggests ways and means to take advantage of this. The book with an innovative approach to child raising and character formation in infancy consists of 5 parts which are:

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS: Babies are very smart. They can learn, do and cope with amazing things. And the only thing that can limit their potential are, surprisingly, the parents. Some parents believe that certain things or activities might be too difficult or yet inappropriate for their baby, therefore limiting their child’s development. However, many skills cannot be gained unless they are learned in early childhood. Therefore, if you are dreaming of your child to become an actor or a model one day, or simply want your child to be good at public speaking, have strong emotional intelligence and high self-confidence (skills acting and modeling develops), it’s better to expose your child to the industry now. Ibuka states that infancy is an extremely important period in a person’s life. So if you miss this vital learning period, it will be much more difficult to teach a child those skills later in life. However, if starting early, your child will always be one step ahead of kids who started later on.

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS: Surrounding matters. If you want your child to become an actor or a model, or simply a successful and creative person, put them in such surroundings now. The entertainment industry is full of highly ambitious and successful people who can teach your child a lot and influence their development in a better way. Ibuka states that in the development of the child, education and surroundings play a larger role than genes and heredity. Remember: impressions from an early childhood determine child’s further behavior and way of thinking.

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS: Kids need love, care, and for parents to take control and leadership of their development, to grow into successful, well-established adults. People who said their parents were more controlling, but at the same time warm and responsive to their needs tended to be more content well into adulthood. The findings are the culmination of a survey which has tracked more than 50,000 people since their birth in 1964. According to statistics the more you invest in your child’s education the more confident and socially adapt they will grow. Even if you, at times, have to slightly force your child towards that education. For example, if you believe your child has potential in Acting or Modeling (even if your child doesn’t express much interest in this himself) or simply believe such activity will be good for your child’s development, you should take the initiative in your kid trying such activities. Your child will only thank you later.

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS: Allowing room for self-expression is vital. An eight-month-old baby can already hold on to a pencil. At the same age, the child begins to tear books and toys apart, bringing his mother to despair. For his mom it’s a mess, for him it’s self-expression. But many parents involuntarily suppress their child’s desire for self-expression. They impose their personal views on the child by telling them what to do: “do not throw the paper on the floor” or “do not tear the book”, etc. It’s not too rare that a house with a small child is superbly clean and everything is in complete order. Usually, guests compliment the mother who manages to keep the house tidy as well as look after the child. For the mother it would be a complete shock to find out that her passion for cleanliness hinders the creative development of her child. Solution? Acting or modeling auditions. It can be a big playground for your child, where they can create and self-express. Children’s writer Eric Carle (famous for “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”) believes that acting and theater are one of the best ways to develop confidence and creative potential. However, he sadly states that because the benefits of such activities are not always immediate, the parents who always expect immediate results may get disappointed and withdraw their child from such activities. But benefits come later. Acting allows for self-expression through body language and words, which later forms child’s ability to freely express themselves in relationships with other people whether at work or at home.

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS: Let your child be better than you. It must be your goal. It has been said it more than once: “Great talents are not born, but they are made”. Even if the abilities and opportunities of parents are limited, their children can achieve tremendous success.

During the first three years of life, the child has the highest potential for learning and development. Use this time wisely. So don’t wait, invest in your child now and start developing their acting or modeling career today!

In his interview with the Bravo Magazine our beloved actor Hugh Jackman tells how acting skills have helped him in his personal and professional relationships. Hugh said “when I went to acting school, I thought ‘WOW’ everybody should do this!”

Hugh tells us that the first thing you learn at acting class is to breathe. How to open your lungs and to breathe openly and fully. The actor believes that if your lungs aren’t open, your emotions aren’t open either, meaning you can’t live a fuller life.

Another important thing acting teaches you is to be present, to be in the moment. As well as it educates about who you are, about human nature….things everyone should learn. Acting and acting training is really about being awake, being observant and not taking things for granted. And those are the key skills in any relationship – professional or personal. Acting teaches you to really see things and people around you, and appreciate them like the first time.

Because as an actor you shoot multiple scenes millions of times and if you can’t keep that novelty inside you, the scene will look stale. It has to be as for the first time. And it is so important to be able to appreciate things like the first time in real life. The ability to do so can help save passion in any relationship or enthusiasm at your daily job. Acting teaches people to notice and appreciate the little things and to remember positive emotions caused by those things. Acting – is an opportunity to wake up and appreciate your life.

And because of such skills Hugh Jackman is successful in his personal life and is absolutely fabulous in his latest movie, “The Greatest Showman”.

Improved communication skills – Acting is communication with people, but in a more contained environment. Kids are told exactly what to do and say with no worries of messing up in conversation. It gives them the practice they need in order to be able to communicate within a normal space in the everyday world.

Boosted confidence – Being on stage builds confidence in ways that most other things can’t. Your child gets to stand on a stage with everyone watching and then rewarded with people’s applause.

New friends – Kids spend weeks at a time with other people who are also putting their everything into a production which really makes them all bond.

Better work ethic – Memorizing lines is no easy task. Especially when they have to be memorized by a specific date in time, most likely sooner rather than later. Having to memorize all these lines requires a good work ethic to make sure production deadlines are met.

Increased emotional intelligence – In recent years, the concept of emotional intelligence has gained a lot of steam in the arenas of business, psychology and education. Some of the areas it encompasses include: self-awareness, self-management and self-direction. Furthermore, recent exploratory research has revealed that acting training can help business managers to hone their communication skills, contributing significantly to their emotional intelligence. Acting is an excellent activity for children who crave balance in their feelings and thoughts, as it helps students to develop their emotional intelligence. Children become more keyed into the emotional messages of other people, as well as learning how to use emotions to complete certain tasks. Acting allows kids to explore these skills in a productive manner.

So take your child to an audition and go with them! Release your emotions, experience new things and live a fuller life! You both will only benefit from it!

The voice is one of the most important tools for actors, regardless of age. We recognize great actors just by their iconic voices; however, good verbal communication skills are crucial even if your child does not end up as a performer. Just think of a job that does not require excellent communication skills – there are not too many, right? If a child is a late speaker or shy to talk, the last thing some parents and teachers consider for children is putting them in front of an audience, but it’s worth considering acting as a fantastic opportunity for enrichment that can significantly improve child’s verbal communication skills. Drama classes, musical theatre, singing lessons, improv classes or perhaps an impromptu role-plays in the comfort of your home – whichever activity you and your child choose to improve their acting skills, it will be beneficial for their speaking skills in many different aspects.

When it comes to acting, it’s all about precise articulation and diction. It is very important to deliver the line clearly and with confidence which is why there are so many vocal “workouts” for actors that are targeted towards exercising and strengthening different speech organs – lips, tongue, teeth, and palate.

Acting puts children in situations and scenarios that they are perhaps less likely to experience in real life, which in turn expands their vocabulary. Usually, a child needs to hear a new word 4 to 12 times before it is added to their vocabulary, and script memorization definitely ensures repeated exposure to new words and sentence structures. Acting also constantly challenges and improves memory through exercises and the requirement to learn lines. You can find various useful tips on how to memorize lines in our blog post Tips for Memorizing Lines for Kids.

Acting helps the child to become more articulate and more eager to share their thoughts, which lays the foundation for the skills required for public speaking and effective presenting. It will train your child to have the courage to speak up in class and ask questions, which is crucial for their learning process. Besides, during auditions, children have to answer questions about themselves, and this strengthens their interviewing skills. If the child is anxious about public speaking, drama teachers can teach them various breathing techniques, accent modification, and help them improve speech clarity.

Activities involving drama keep the child’s mind alert and help them learn to think on their feet since they need to adapt to new situations and different settings for each performance. The more child participates in different auditions and acting gigs, the more they will expand their comfort zone.

Children definitely absorb more knowledge when they are having fun. We have already suggested some creative activities in 5 Ways Your Kid Can Practice Acting At Home, and here are some activities that focus on speech. For toddlers, try playing with funny voices – such as a grumpy bear voice or a squeaky mouse voice – so your child can copy you and practice different sounds and pitches. Babies just love music, and singing is a great way to build their language. Teach them songs that rhyme (‘One, Two, Buckle My Shoe’) or have a lot of various sounds (‘Old MacDonald’). Toddlers really listen to and respond to real human voices and interaction, rather than TV shows. For older children, an effective form of engagement is tongue twisters. Speech pathologists use tongue twisters to improve the child’s consonant and vowel sounds. Tongue twisters will be particularly helpful to children who tend to slur sounds together. They can help your child notice little differences between the pronunciation of different letters – like the letters ‘p’ and ‘b’; some of them focus on a single letter like hard ‘t’ or ‘y’ in the word ‘yellow’.

The big, bumbling bear burned his butt baking bread.

The hippos heard the hunter’s hiccups and hurried home to hide.

Yellow leather, yellow feather, yellow lemon.

Six stinky skunks sprayed Santa’s sleigh.

To improve articulation, choose tongue twisters featuring phonemes that are particularly difficult for your child. To boost their confidence, make sure to include tongue twisters featuring phonemes your child is particularly good at. To make the training more fun, you can recite tongue twisters with phonemes you are bad at. Kids find it funny when adults get things wrong, so have a laugh when the tongue-twisting goes wrong and enjoy the race to get it right!

Every audition and acting experience is a wonderful learning opportunity because language skills develop best in a world full of sounds, sights, and consistent exposure to the speech and language of other people. You as a parent can make a huge difference in speech development process because each daily interaction with your child presents a chance to work on their language. Whether your child is just a cute, camera-ready toddler barely starting to form sentences or a teen who aspires to an acting career, you can guide them in the right direction and involve them in activities that will help them become engaging speakers and confident communicators both on and off stage.

Matthew McConaughey is an American actor, producer, model, writer and director. He first gained notice for his breakout role in the coming-of-age comedy “Dazed and Confused” in 1993. Oscar winner McConaughey is now a legend in the film industry who starred in incredible movies like “Dallas Buyers Club”, “Interstellar”, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”, “Gold” and many others.

In a recent interview with the SAG-AFTRA foundation, McConaughey discussed his experience in Hollywood and the life lessons he learned while working on set. For example, McConaughey explains that as an actor you have to “just let it go”.

McConaughey started acting when he was a teenager, and began his acting career in television commercials. When McConaughey was offered his part in “Dazed and Confused” , his only acting experience was small gigs in the commercials. Gigs so small, you would hardly notice McConaughey on screen. But actor still values the experience. Therefore, his first advice is: allow your child to get as much experience as possible. Even if it is small roles in the commercials or student movies. It all adds up and can help your child score big, and be prepared for when that big opportunity comes along! Plus while doing small acting jobs, your child might just meet the right person who will offer your child that big break.

Actor’s second advice is: always prepare, even for the tiniest roles. For his first movie role McConaughey got only 3 lines in a few scenes. But actor prepared for 2 weeks daily. McConaughey constantly rehearsed the lines. As well as really forced himself to think as his character. He understood what world his character lived in, what he would buy in the 7-Eleven store and how he would act in any kind of situation. McConaughey was so real and passionate during shooting that he instantly got offered more gigs. One of them – his big breakout role in “Dazed and Confused” . So hard work really paid off!

McConaughey’s third advice is: let it go, stay relaxed and don’t worry what the Casting Director is thinking. Actor remembers going to audition after an audition. But never getting the part. When thinking about it, he believes it’s because he studied acting too much. And focused on his lines too much. His acting was too much “by the book”. McConaughey says: “You need to find the balance between knowing your lines real hard, but at the same time being able to improvise and to let your personality shine. It’s all about behaving, not acting. That’s only possible when you are relaxed. So more auditions you attend, the easier it will get.”

Here are a few tips McConaughey wishes he’d been given when starting out:

1. Loosen up in the audition room – just go there, have fun and do your version of the role.

2. Treat auditions like rehearsals – pretend you already have the role, and you are just going to rehearsal.

3. Auditioning is a good way to practice – do your best and do it for yourself.

4. Be versatile – to achieve that, take all roles possible.

5. Learn from others – learn from actors in the movies or from other actors on set.

6. Be what you want to be – You want to be a writer? Start writing. You want to be a filmmaker? Start shooting stuff on your phone right now. You want to be an actor? Start acting.

7. Use your imagination – think where your character is coming from, and why, how he got here, and where’s he going. This helps to make a role ‘yours’. McConaughey admits he spends time to explore the character’s intentions, words, and actions that would occur just before he enters or after he exits scenes; such process helps actor to feel more relaxed.

And there you have it! Discuss these tips with your child before the next audition. Please remember that becoming an actor is not an easy task, and it will take your child time to perfect their technique. However, if your child has the passion, drive, dedication, talent and your support, they will go a long way! Search auditions on KidsCasting now.

School’s out, let the summer movie season begin! We think summer should be all about spending more time outdoors, but there is no harm in cooling down in a movie theater after a day at the beach. This summer will bring us many buzzworthy and family-friendly movies. To help you select what is worth your time and ticket, we’ve compiled a nice little list with our top picks for families with kids of various ages.

Incredibles 2 | June 15

The Incredibles won the hearts of 90’s kids 14 years ago, and the beloved superhero family finally returns to the screens. This time Elastigirl is in charge of saving the world while Mr. Incredible is left to carry out thousand and one mission of daily life and take care of their three children. It might not be suitable for very young or sensitive kids, but it will be a fun summer movie for many families. Incredibles 2 will include an IMAX 3D version for those who like the added dimension.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | June 22

Teens, as well as their parents, will enjoy this action-packed sequel to Jurassic World. Raptor trainer Owen and former park manager Claire travel to Isla Nublar to try to save dinosaurs from a second extinction. We can expect dinosaurs more impressive than ever, spectacular scenes and great performances.

Ant-Man and the Wasp | July 6

This is a sequel to Marvel’s 2015 sci-fi superhero movie Ant-Man. This time Ant-Man attempts to balance being a father and a superhero and teams up with Wasp for a new mission that will unveil secrets from their past. The original Ant-Man movie had lots of action, so, like most Marvel films, it will likely be suitable for tweens and up who can handle the intensity.

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | July 13

This family-friendly monster movie tells a story about a hotel owner Dracula and his family. In this installment, Dracula’s daughter, Mavis, surprises everyone with a family vacation on a luxury cruise ship for monsters. Things are looking good for the little family, but the perfect holiday take an unexpected turn. The first two movies had plenty of kid-friendly jokes but also some a bit more mature humor and romance, so expect the same here.

Teen Titans Go! To The Movies | July 27

With the TV show being so popular, the kids will most likely want to see their favorite superheroes on the big screen. The movie follows five young heroes on a mission to star in their own movie after finding out that nearly every DC character has one. Sadly, nobody really takes them seriously, so they decide to create their own enemy. The show Teen Titans Go! offers a comedic look at the superheroes and the trailer definitely delivers on goofing that longtime fans of the show will enjoy.

Christopher Robin | August 3

Christopher Robin, the boy who loved to embark on adventures in Hundred Acre Wood, is now an adult, facing the difficulties of the adult world and seems to have lost his vivid childhood imagination. To remind him of the loving and playful boy still inside of him, Christopher Robin’s friends will take all the risks, including the risk of venturing into our real world. Disney’s Christopher Robin certainly looks like a heart-warming family movie and is a guaranteed tear-jerker.

Right now you could be sitting at the beach, sipping pineapple juice, blazing in the sun while your children build sand castles. Sounds great? Actually, it doesn’t. If your little one loves performing, beach leisure isn’t gonna help them do it. You are reading this article because you want to make their hopes and dreams come to life. For years KidsCasting has been helping youngsters find auditions and performance gigs. There are many things you can benefit from our services. Here are 5 advantages our members have by being subscribed to KidsCasting.

You will have a personalized online resume profile

When registering on KidsCasting you will create a resume profile for your child. Your resume will include their photos and their main headshot. Add their height, hair color, eye color, credentials and special talents – all the information casting directors are looking for.
This profile will not only be useful for you when applying to casting calls through KidsCasting. Casting directors and agents will be able to discover your profile and consider your kid for their productions.
You can also download your KidsCasting profile and the system will automatically turn it into a pdf resume format. Without extra hassle, it is ready to be printed and used for offline submissions.

Access to a systemized and continually updated collection of casting calls

Our casting call database is continuously updated offering many new casting notices daily. As a user you will be able to browse the collection based on many different specifics, such as production location, performance type, etc. The casting calls are categorized and ready for you to discover in an easy and comfortable way.

You will get notifications of relevant, new casting calls sent to your email

Imagine – you don’t need to constantly look through many casting call notices to see if any new, relevant ones have been posted. You can sit back and relax more because KidsCasting will notify you to your e-mail if new casting calls in your area have appeared. This way you don’t have to worry about missing out on great opportunities. What you now need to do is just apply.

Available direct communication with casting directors

Did you know that casting directors and agents also use KidsCasting? It is a great place for them to discover new talent, like your kid for example. Being a part of KidsCasting you will be able to communicate with them directly through our mailing system. Reply to their invitations or address them yourself. You will be able to grow your network and gain new, important industry contacts.

Access to advice articles

If you are just starting out, our Parent Academy will prepare you for the journey ahead. Our Parent Academy is a regularly updated educational section, a place where parents can learn about the entertainment industry and the tools needed to help their kids find success.

These and plenty of other reasons are why KidsCasting keeps growing with more and more casting directors and members joining every day. Along with our user base, the Casting Call collection is evolving, too. So no need for you to wait any longer. Join KidsCasting today. It’s your time to take advantage of all we have to offer.

So you’ve made the decision – you want to be an actor. Now what? Here are some fundamental tips from Hollywood star Kate Winslet (famous for “Titanic”, “The Mountain Between Us”, “The Holiday” and “Divergent”). Kate started acting at 16 and her first part was of a schoolgirl in BBC TV Series. Kate did not earn much from that job, and a lack of funds forced her to leave and work at a deli store to support herself.

So first advice from Kate to teenagers staring out in acting is – you have to know it is difficult, it is definitely a hard job to do and hard career to get in to. But if you are really passionate about acting, just keep working your craft. Keep practicing, make mistakes, learn from them and practice more. If you strongly believe acting is what you want to do with your life, you will get there as long as you don’t give up. You just need to keep going, and keep going, and keep going. Keep yourself busy and apply to as many auditions as you can (by the way KidsCasting has over 1,200 auditions at any given time).

So how can teens become great actors? Read Kate Winslet’s tips below:

1. Always keep an open mind and learn to get excited or inspired by the unexpected. Be accepting of everything and everyone as actors can be quite weird. Never judge other people and just enjoy the process’s.

2. Have a desire to face challenges – acting is tough. And you have to love challenges to love acting. The biggest challenge of all is the ability to stay focused. Because the craziness of “on-set” environment can be so intense that you will sometimes forget not just your words or ideas that you had, but even your first name. And it’s OK. Take yourself to a quiet corner and regroup.

3. Let the preparation go when on set – you might have prepared at home for weeks… But it’s so important to allow the director and other actors shape your style of acting and personality of your character. Never have anything set in stone.

4. If the movie you are taking part in is an adaptation of a book – always read the book, unless specifically asked not to by the film director. The book will give you alternative insight onto your character and production as a whole.

5. Never stop learning. Even if you think you have had plenty of experiences. Always evolve and look for ways to do things differently. Stay involved, excited and passionate. Stagnation is your worst enemy. And remember: every filming experience is different.

6. Don’t look in the mirror while rehearsing at home. Rehearsing in front of a mirror can deter you from being present and in the moment when reading lines as your character. While anyone will be curious to see how they looked while saying their lines, in the long run, it can only hurt your performance and make you too focused on the way you think you should look.

7. Develop your emotional intelligence. Acting is not pretending. Yes, you do pretend to be someone else (your character), but you use real emotions that you really have within you to bring your character to life. That’s what makes acting believable. So study your emotions and use that insight in your acting.

8. Enrich your life – the more hobbies and interests you have as a person, the more successful you’ll be as an actor. Your real-life experiences will help you bring emotions and insight to each role you take on. So keep living your life to the fullest – it will only better your craft.

9. Get into commercials – that’s where loads of teens start out (most famous actors started as teens in commercials). Consider taking a commercial acting class where you’ll be taught how to do a slate, commercial copy, how to “bite and like” (e.g. in food commercials when tasting something immediately showing positive emotions). Commercials are all about selling the product – so you’ll be taught how to hold a product without covering its name, how to sample the product and love it on camera. Apart from commercials look at web series, short films and student films to start out. (There are plenty of such gigs on KidsCasting.com)

10. And last but not least, embrace acting career with all it’s ups and downs. And don’t give up until you succeed